Playing video games is all well and good, but making video games is a next-level challenge. Or, at least, it was, until the geek world devised some killer tool-kits to allow anyone with a knack for design and a cohesive vision the chance to create their own games. There are many ways to make a digital game today, and some of them don't require a massive investment of time or money. If you want to get your dream game on its feet, all you need is a little bit of savvy and some research.
If you're eager to get started ASAP, and you have a device that runs iOS apps, your best bet is the Sketch Nation series. All you'll have to do in order to start creating your game is sketch it out on a piece of paper. The Sketch Nation app can transform your manic, inspired scribbles into playable games, which you can then share with your friends and even sell in the App Store! For ease of use, it's tough to top a program that translates doodles into gameplay.
If you know your way around a computer a little better, take a crack at RPG Maker, a custom program that allows you to create 16-bit RPGs similar to those popular during the SNES' RPG Golden Age. Using switches, events, and statistics, you'll hone your vision and match it with the appropriate bits of the existing RPG vocabulary. Custom sprites are easy to find or create, and the script and storyline are under your control.
In addition to the dedicated game design programs, you can also find the means to create your own video games in retail games. LittleBigPlanet and its sequel, LittleBigPlanet 2 don't just allow you to create your own levels--they'll let you express yourself and create entire systems to support your vision. Minecraft, renowned for its wide-open structure, promises great rewards to those with the skill to build their games within its craft-and-survive framework. Tons of modern RPGs have level editors, creator tool-kits, or other customization engines, so there is no shortage of ways to create a game based on or supported by an existing title.
Best of luck as you create your masterpiece!
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